Digital innovation and strong corporate governance have collided. 

Boardrooms  are tasked with re-thinking the board member profile and committee  structure in light of innovation and emerging transitional risks. 

I've spent the better part of  four years immersed in blockchain, artificial intelligence, cloud and  digital disruption initiatives. When I say immersed, I truly mean  immersed. I haven't just attended conferences and read books. I've rolled up my sleeves and gotten involved! 

With  seven years of for-profit public and private company board experience; Two successful business exits commanding premiums to market as a CEO and as Partner and Board Director; Four years of direct involvement in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology integration initiatives; Twenty years of leadership experience as CEO and other senior level positions; leading business transformation with direct P&L oversight; I have never seen change occur as fast as change is occurring today. 

This time in my life has forever changed how I think and how I problem solve for a pain point.

I understand these new technologies but I also appreciate the challenges  faced by management with regard to legacy systems and processes. Being  up to date and educated on these initiatives allow for thought provoking  and robust discussions in the boardroom and with management.

Scroll down to find my upcoming speaking engagements and enjoy my thoughts on these topics!

Board Experience

Director, Audit, Risk, Nom & Gov Committees Member, Recology;

Director, Audit Committee Member, OFG Bancorp (Symbol:   OFG);

Director, Compensation Committee Chair and Nom & Gov   Committee Member, Tanimura & Antle;

Director, NACD NorCal Chapter & Pacific Coast Banking   School, WA.;

Former Director, Audit Committee Chair, Compensation   Committee Member, SF Holdings;

Former Director, Audit and Nominating & Governance   Committee Member, FIG Partners LLC;

Former Inside Director, President & CEO, Mechanics   Bank (Symbol: MCHB)

Christa Steele is a results driven leader with a customer centric mindset aware of the emerging mega trends facing business industry today. She is an experienced CEO and Director serving as a board member of for-profit public, private, ESOP and family-owned B2B and B2C companies across varying industry verticals. Since 2013, professional board service has included six public and private for profit company boards - including serving as Chair of Audit and Compensation committees to the financial services, insurance, wealth management, investment banking, transportation, equipment leasing, waste collection, food and agricultural industries operating in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands.

Professional Highlights

Two successful business exits commanding premiums to market as a CEO and as Partner and Board Director; Four years of direct involvement in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology integration initiatives; Twenty years of leadership experience as CEO and other senior level positions; leading business transformation with direct P&L oversight. 

Core Competencies

Technology disruption, business disintermediation, strategic planning, corporate strategy, regulation, ESG, M&A, organic growth, employee development, efficiency improvement, audit and risk management oversight, balance sheet management, capital markets, shareholder and key stakeholder engagement. 

Partner and CEO Operating Background

Until recently, Steele was a partner and board member of FIG Partners, a highly successful investment bank focused on M&A, Capital Markets, Fixed Income Asset Management, and IPO’s with ten locations across the United States. In April 2019, FIG Partners was acquired by Janney Montgomery Scott. 

Prior, Steele spent two decades in the financial services industry serving retail, wealth management and commercial clientele. Most notably, during her tenure, she led a $3.5 Billion asset size bank located in the Bay Area of CA. As former CEO, with direct P&L responsibility of a company with $500 million in market cap, Steele led a significant financial turnaround resulting in core earnings 43% in a single calendar year, doubled the banks’ value in less than two years, and successfully led its sale for a premium in 2015. 

Thought Leader

Steele is an authority figure on artificial intelligence, 5G, IoT, blockchain, and machine learning; digital disruption to the boardroom. She is nationally recognized as a speaker and thought leader by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Women Corporate Directors (WCD), Directors Forum, Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Steele is often interviewed by news outlets such as Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Financial Times (FT), American Bankers Association (ABA) and Bank Director. Examples include Consumer Electronics Show (CES), FT Agenda Webcast, and The WSJ Artificial Intelligence Pro Conference, Institute of Internal Auditors OnRisk 2020 and Corporate Governance Survey and NACD Blockchain Webinar. 

Recognition

Steele will be featured on the cover of the Private Company Directors Magazine for the March/April 2020 edition. Steele will also be featured in the cover article for the March/April 2020 NACD Magazine edition. She was recognized by Private Company Director Magazine in 2019 as a Top 50 North America "Director to Watch" and received previous recognition by the San Francisco Business Times as "Most Influential Leader in Bay Area Business" and by Crowe Horwath for driving significant financial performance improvement in 2015. 

Education

Steele qualifies as a financial expert, is an adjunct faculty member of the NACD Board Advisory Services Group and Board Leadership Fellow, holds an MBA from University of Southern CA (USC) and an undergraduate degree from California State University Sacramento (CSUS).